Social influence - Conformity Flashcards
Who theorised two explanations for conformity and what did they propose?
Deutsch and Gerrard (1955)
There are only two reasons people conform.
State and define the two explanations for conformity.
Normative SI: People have a fundamental need for social approval and acceptance. We avoid behaviour which would lead to rejection or ridicule. We copy behaviour to ‘fit in’, this is conformity. NSI leads to compliance
Informational SI: people have a fundamental need to have an accurate perception of reality. In this case they can’t make objective tests as the situation is ambiguous so they rely on others to provide evidence on reality, leads to internalisation.
Evaluate internal (D+G) explanations for conformity
+ Asch (1951), comparing three test lines and a standard line. 33% of answers were wrong (chance of genuine mistake was 1%) NSI took place as after participants claimed the knew the right answer but were afraid of ridicule
+ Jenness (1932) beans in a jar, individual estimates made, but when in group estimates were the same, informational SI bcos task was ambiguous
+ Sherif (1935) auto kinetic effect, light appears to move, when individuals tested estimates were far, participants then tested in groups of 3 with two similar one diff estimates converged as ISI took place.
- a potential third explanation is ingratiational SI. This is the need to impress or gain favour rather than the effect of normative SI
- dispositional factors could also impact conformity E.g. internal or external locus of control. Explain what internal/external locus of control is.
Describe the procedure of the experiment related to variables affecting conformity
Asch (1951) placed a naïve participant in a group with several confederates. The group was asked to look at a ‘standard line’ and then decide individually which of three other ‘test lines’ was the same length as the standard line, without discussing it with one another. They then gave their responses one at a time out loud. the confederates gave the wrong answer on 12/18 trials. The naïve participant was the last, or penultimate one to answer
state and explain the variables affecting conformity
Group size:
one confederate = 3% conformity
two confederated = 13% conformity
three confederates = 32% conformity
Little change after 3+
Task difficulty:
As the task got harder (test lines more similar) ISI had an influence and conformity increased
Unanimity
When one confederate gave a wrong answer conformity went from 33% to 5%
When the confederate gave a right answer 33% to 9%
Evaluate Asch (1951-1956)
- low/no temporal validity as the study took place over 80 years ago and post war attitudes means people were more conformist (work together and content more)
- Low mundane realism (doesn’t reflect real life) and ecological validity (cannot be generalised to real life) because conformity often takes place in social setting and participants were strangers
- Gender and culture bias: only used while male Americans, but upon replication with different samples and cultures it has proven to be reliable (similar results have been found).
- Volunteer sample therefore no population validity and cannot be generalised
- Ethical issues: deception necessary to avoid demand characteristic which would render the findings invalid, lack of informed consent, psychological harm.
What is a social role?
Social roles are the behaviours expected of an individual who occupies a social position or status. People can conform to the social roles assigned to them.
Describe the procedure for the conformity to social roles experiment
Zimbardo (1973)
- investigating whether conformity to social roles would alter a person’s behaviour
- simulated prison under Stanford universities psychology department
- 24 emotionally and psychologically stable young men, randomly assigned role of prisoner or guard,
- guards had complete control over the prisoners and could maintain control using any non-physical means
- prisoners were confined to their cells around the clock except for meals, toilet privileges, head counts and work.
Evaluate Stanford prison experiment
Zimbardo (1973)
- The study was highly unethical as prisoners were subjected to psychological harm. Five prisoners had to be released early because of their extreme
reactions, such as crying, rage and acute anxiety. However, Zimbardo did not expect the guards to behave in the way they did so this harm could not have been anticipated. - Zimbardo took on the role of prison warden, became very involved in the experiment and lost his objectivity. He had to be told by a colleague to end the experiment because of concerns over the distress of the prisoners. This means the validity of the findings can be questioned.
- The sample was unrepresentative as all the participants were white (with one exception), young, middle class, male students from Stanford University. The results cannot be generalised to women (gender bias) or other cultures (cultural bias).
- The guards in Zimbardo’s experiment may have behaved the way they did due to demand characteristics; some of the participants reported afterwards that they thought that the experimenters wanted them to behave aggressively, and this is why they behaved the way they did. This means the study is not valid.
- Some of the guards did not conform to the role given to them and were very reluctant to become involved in cruelty towards the prisoners, whereas other guards were very abusive. This suggests that individual differences are important in determining the extent to which participants will conform to social roles
Describe the findings for the conformity to social roles experiment.
- On day 2 the prisoners tried to rebel: ripped off their prison numbers, barricaded themselves in their cell. The guards sprayed them with carbon dioxide, stripped them naked, took their beds away and forced the ringleaders into solitary confinement.
- the guards became increasingly cruel and aggressive. Prisoners became passive and depressed as the guards used verbal abuse, forced them to do repeated press ups, pushed them into urinals and left them in
a pitch black cupboard for hours. - The guards became so aggressive that the study was ended after 6 days (meant to be 2wks), because of concerns about the psychological health of the prisoners, who were showing signs of severe distress.
Define conformity
Conformity is a form of social influence where a person changes their
behaviour, attitudes or beliefs so that they are in line with the majority. This
occurs because of pressure from the majority, this pressure can be real or
imagined.
Define compliance
- Compliance is when individuals adjust the behaviour, attitudes or beliefs they show in public, so that they are in line with the majority.
- There is no change to private behavior, attitudes or beliefs and conformity only lasts while the group is present. It is therefore a superficial and temporary form of conformity.
Define internalisation
Internalisation is when individuals adjust their behavior, attitudes or beliefs, publically AND privately, so that they are in line with the majority. The individual examines their own behavior, attitudes or beliefs based on what others are saying and decides that the majority is correct. This is deeper than compliance and more permanent.
Define identification
Identification is when an individual accepts social influence because they want
to be associated with a role model or a social group.
By adopting the role model/group’s behavior, attitudes or beliefs they feel
connected to the role model/group.
Describe the findings for the study for variables affecting conformity
- The chance of making a genuine mistake on this task was only 1% but 33% of the responses given by participants were incorrect.
- 75% of participants conformed in at least 1/18 trials.
- 5% of participants conformed on every trial
- 25% did not conform on any trial.
- When Asch interviewed his participants afterwards he discovered that the majority of participants who had conformed had continued to trust their own judgment but gave the same answer as the group to avoid disapproval (normative social influence).
